1. In Feb 2002, I returned from 3 months overseas to find my cellphone disconnected. A debit order bounced and I paid the outstanding fees. My phone was re-activated.

2. A few days later, my phone was cut off again. I phoned the call centre, who told me that it was due to non-payment of my last account. I told the agent that I had paid it two days before. I was asked to send proof of payment again.

3. I sent PoP, received no reply & my phone remained cut off. I sent an email a few days later requesting EITHER to re-instate service within 24 hours OR cancel my contract. I received no reply.

4. In July 2002, Autopage’s debt collectors contacted me, requesting payment for remainder of contract etc. I spoke to them and they asked for proof of above, which I sent.

5. In 2005, I discovered I was blacklisted on ITC. I phoned Autopage legal department, who immediately removed the blacklisting.

6. In April 2011, a new debt collecting agency phoned to chase payment. I explained the above, and asked that she send an email & include recording of phone call, which she didn’t do.

7. Today I received an SMS that Autopage has now blacklisted me with XDS.

UPDATE: Martin Mosavel from Autopage’s Legal Department phoned to apologize on Autopage’s behalf. He has also CC’ed me in on an email to MBD Credit Solutions asking them to close the account on their side as it was outsourced in error. I did a credit check earlier and there are no current listings either on Transunion ITC nor Experian.

Last night my Vuvuzela got stolen at a bar in San Diego,??the Tilted Kilt.??

In the photo below you can see what it looks like.

Here’s a close-up with more detail. As you can see it’s no ordinary Vuvuzela. The unique beadwork was done by a group of grandmothers in Khayelitsha (Grandmothers Against Poverty & AIDS -??www.gapa.org.za) as part of an income generation project.

And as luck has it, the culprit got caught on camera in the background of a photo I took of Sarah, our waittress.

Here’s a closer look of the bearded guy who took it. He grabbed it and ran out, according to his friends. His friends, however, claimed that they “don’t really know the guy”.

So, if you’re ever in San Diego and a see a guy with a green Vuvuzela with beadwork on it, please assist in retrieving it or providing any information that could lead to its return!

Finally you can get quality content on your mobile phone that doesn’t consist of a farting monkey ringtone costing R30 a week. Elodie Kleynhans (@elodiek) this week started shooting the Soccer Babes (http://www.soccerbabe.co.za) show with 3 presenters providing a daily dose. If you like what you see in this video, you can subscribe yourself by SMSing ‘SB’ to 31904. (R2.50/show – you’ll need a phone that can play video)